Ikea Raises $2 Million for Forest Restoration Projects

Swedish retailer Ikea says its Plant a Tree program is responsible for the planting of two million trees in the U.S.

In partnership with American Forests, the program has helped to restore vulnerable ecosystems and endangered habitats, as well as remove and store the lifespan carbon dioxide emissions of 10,000 average cars.

IKEA began its in-store ‘Plant A Tree’ program in 1998. The contributions collected, together with money donated by IKEA, have raised $2 million.

The trees donated to American Forests are planted throughout the U.S. in environmental restoration projects. These plantings have included the following sites and amounts: 74,000 trees in the McNally Fire restoration in California; 15,000 trees in Arizona for the Warm Fire Restoration project; and over 100,000 trees in the Lower Rio Grande in Texas.

Comments

IKEA is one of the key companies responsible for creating a global culture of 'throw away' over the last 20 years. To even consider how many of its products end up in landfill every year is mind boggling. The company posts net profit in the billions every year so a $2m donation to replanting trees is actually insulting.

There has to be a line drawn and distinction made between companies that are paying 'guilt money' for profiteering from damaging society and the environment visa-vie companies that are creating genuine shared value.